Hegseth seeks death penalty for Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is seeking the death penalty for Nidal Hasan, a former Army major and psychiatrist convicted of killing 13 people and injuring 32 others during a mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, 16 years ago, the Daily Caller reports.

Hasan admitted to carrying out the attack on Nov. 5, 2009, claiming it was justified as a defense of the “Islamic Empire” against U.S. military actions. In 2013, he was convicted of 13 counts of premeditated murder by a military court and sentenced to death.

The Pentagon classified the incident as “workplace violence” instead of pursuing terrorism charges.

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Rare military execution awaits presidential approval

Military executions are extremely rare and require approval from the President of the United States. Hegseth is currently waiting on final authorization from President Donald Trump.

Hasan has attempted for years to avoid execution through legal appeals. In April 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his final appeal, leaving no remaining legal options.

“I am 100% committed to ensuring the death penalty is carried out for Nidal Hasan,” Hegseth told Fox News Digital. “This savage terrorist deserves the harshest lawful punishment for his 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood. The victims and survivors deserve justice without delays.”

Background on Hasan and the Fort Hood attack

Hasan was born in Arlington, Virginia, in 1970 to Palestinian immigrant parents. He served in the U.S. Army for nearly 20 years and, at some point, adopted “radical Islamist beliefs,” Fox News Digital reports.

Straight Arrow News has reached out to the White House for comment.